I haven't used one of those CD drive-cleaning discs in living memory, but after my CD/DVD drive keeps making conspicious errors (failing to burn properly or falsely reporting there's no disc), I suppose I might need to clean it. I vaguely remember having to play the discs so they clean the drive while spinning. Are there any that won't run in a Linux CD player, or can I buy the first cleaning disc I see at the store? I'd "google" it, but all the search results seem to concern "cleaning" viruses/malware, not dirt.

It's just a disc with a little brush mounted on it. As long as the drive will spin it, it will clean the laser head.

As MS3FGX says they're just a CD with brushes on. I have used one and it seemed like it may have worked and in theory they could well work. As for them causing problems with a "Linux CD player" I'm not sure what you mean by that? The CD ROM drive is the same whichever OS you're using so the OS is irrelevant.

Yes, I was skeptical that there could really be a problem, but I haven't used one of these discs in some years, and wanted to "cover all bases" by finding out. I'd be pretty annoyed If I bought one and then discovered that, for any reason, it wouldn't start spinning when I clicked play on a Linux music-playing application.

Or is the short spinning time after I insert the disc all the time it needs to clean the drive, which would make Linux irrelevant to it? I supposed not; I supposed I had to use a media player to keep it running for a while.

You would have to play the CD in an application, yes, as the one I had at least had the brushes where the third track was marked or something. I can't see there being a problem under Linux though but I wish I knew where mine was to test it.

If you can see the laser lens you can always use some compressed air on it.

I don't know exactly what the laser lens looks like. Hmm, I suppose it's obviously the red spot near the back which I saw only now.

I'm trying compressed air, but I'm skeptical that it would help much long-term, because of the direction I have to blow the air.

It's the round glass eye looking thingy on top
see: http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbvie...-cd-player.jpg

IMHO, those "clean-cds" are waste of time and money if it's possible to replace your cd/dvd device.

I don't know about that, but the drive might very well be broken even though it's at most four years old. It can't burn a disc (image or audio) without quickly failing, but my other optical drive can finish a burn (if not always) despite that it's probably twelve years old. I suppose I should take a hint from that.

This is why I haven't enjoyed using computers in years. Multiple things could be the problem--the distro, the burning program, the drive, the disc, the data cable...--and if it's any of the software, that becomes even more complicated because who knows what caused that--a corrupted installation (and if so, was it during installation or later) or a bad installation CD (presumably because of problems with this optical drive). Tracing the problem (if indeed there's only one thing wrong) either is impossible or requires considerable time and effort.

That's the worst advice I have ever seen or heard in my life!

The cleaning CDs and some compressed air are only a few $, if something needs cleaning you clean it, you don't throw it away. Cleaning is part of proper maintenance.

Do you throw your clothes away everyday? Do you buy a new car when you need an oil change?

That's a bit aggressive (and the price difference makes comparing an optical drive to a car unreasonable), but being frugal, yes, I would rather try to fix it before throwing it out.

Yes and the hint is in my opinion buying a computer is also a matter of luck .
Twelve years old OK , but how many burning hours

That's a point: I think it sat on a shelf for a few years before I pulled it out of a dead or abandoned computer.

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If you fail to see the downside in paying for something that might or might not work for an ultra cheap device that is supposed to work a 100%, feel free to do so.

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Pathetic? Stupid people list? I'm sorry he/she annoyed you with his/her very overbearing expression of disagreement, but it bashed only your statement, not you.